The New Year is approaching and along with it comes the hope of new beginnings, new promises, and new possibilities. Included in this sometimes very personal and lengthy list are the new and exciting things that are coming to Midtown.
One of the first things you might have noticed is the big green flag hanging outside the Group Exercise studio that says “Group Core.” Group Core is the newest addition to our Body Training Systems class line-up. It’s a 30-minute class that focuses exclusively on your mid-section (abdominals and back).
Since they work as a unit, it’s important to work them together and that’s exactly what this class helps you do. The class launches the week of January 9, 2012.
Another new program coming soon is ViPR. ViPR enables full-body movement so you are entirely unified as you move. Whole-body integrated exercises are tailored to your body and fitness level. Members of our Atlanta club have been enjoying this workout for months. Here’s a sneak peek.
The personal trainer training class will be held January 14, 2012, and sessions for members are soon to follow so be on the look out!
We also have a few cool events planned to get you on the right track to health and fitness in 2012.
Nutrition 101: New Year, New You! takes place on January 9, from 6-7 p.m
During this hour I’ll talk about some nutritional basics you can incorporate into your every day life, the benefits of a food diary, and we’ll answer any questions you may have about how to make small changes in your eating habits.
F.I.T.-Functional Interval Training on January 16, from 6-7 p.m
F.I.T. teaches the muscles to work together rather than independently, using your core to hold your body, and not relying on a machine to do it for you. Guy Petruzzelli will help you incorporate this into your workouts and show you how it can benefit you more than traditional weight training.
Raw Food Demos on January 19, at 6:30 p.m. and January 23, at 9:30 a.m
Guest instructor Heidi Geiger will speak to the advantages of a raw food diet and will have a few dishes for you to try. Raw food is a great way to eat a more pure and natural diet.
Want more? Here is the entire event list for January so mark your calendars today!
Remember, there is always a newer and better version of yourself just waiting to be discovered.
Happy New Year from Midtown!
Thanksgiving is just around the corner and with it comes big meals, extra glasses of wine, and scoops of ice cream that
magically appear on your plate. (Hmmm, where did that come from? Yummy!)
We consume between 2,000-3,500 calories during our Thanksgiving lunch/dinner with a total of 4,000-4,500 calories total for the day. That’s two to three days’ worth in one meal!
Fortunately, we are open on Thanksgiving Day, 5am-2pm, and are here to help you pre-burn off some of those calories. Besides your normal routine of cardio and a bit of weights, you can join any of our seven group exercise classes to get your metabolism revved up for the turkey stuffing (pun intended).
Want to know how many calories you’ll burn off in these classes?
Group Step
You burn 360-660 calories in a one-hour step class. So join Frank at 8:45am, and you’ll blast away a 6-ounce serving of turkey (340 calories) and a 6-ounce serving of ham (300 calories).
Mat Pilates
You burn approximately 360 calories in Mat Pilates. Do the The Hundred and more with Diane and one piece of pumpkin pie (180 calories) and 1/2 cup gravy (150 calories) are gone.
Turkey Buster Cycle
Best yet, take our special 75-minute Turkey Buster Cycle class and burn a total of 800-1000 calories. If you finish that class on a high note you’ll have pre-burned your 1/2 cup serving of green bean casserole (150 calories), 1/2 cup stuffing (180 calories), one roll with butter (155 calories), 1/2 cup cranberry sauce (150 calories), and 1/2 cup mashed potatoes (150 calories).
So what have you got to lose but a few pounds?
What are your fitness plans for Thanksgiving Day?
Motivation comes in many forms. Whether it’s used to get somewhere or to stay far, far away from something, motivation drives us to Midtown every day.
Some may think we are all here to lose weight or to be a certain size but that’s just not the case.
There are many reasons why we are here, getting healthier, and making changes.
As a trainer, most people think working out, eating right, and making goals comes easier for me than you.
Let me assure you, it doesn’t!
Sure, I may have more overall knowledge, but applying it to my life can be just as challenging. And after having a baby almost a year ago, it’s even harder! So yes, I’d love to have my pre-baby body back exactly the way it was (mainly so I could fit into all of my old clothes), but that’s not always possible.
So instead of focusing on the number on the scale, I decided to focus on fitness-based goals. This is more motivational for me than stepping on the scale because it puts a positive spin on getting where I want to be.
So what are fitness-based goals?
Well, instead of weighing yourself and feeling disappointed with what you see, focus on “upping” one aspect of your workout.
Add a bit more weight than you always do on your favorite exercise, or two more reps than last time, or burn an extra 100 calories in the same amount of time doing cardio.
That way feeling stronger or faster will help you towards your ultimate goal.
After my son was born, and I was back working out, I would try to get to a certain block faster than I did the last time on my run, or ahem, jog. And I was super-excited when I could finally do 12 full, (not “girlie”) pushups on the ground, so much that I posted it on Facebook to make sure everyone knew!
That’s when I knew I was getting closer to the old me and I didn’t need the scale to tell me so.
Now some people don’t care about weight or size. That’s just not why they they are regulars at the Club. They are here to get their insides healthier. One of my clients’ dad passed away from heart disease and she knew that if she didn’t make a change she’d meet the same end. Now she uses exercise as a stress-reliever and also recognizes she sleeps better since she’s been working out.
Our sessions have made a huge difference in her daily life.
My dad also has his health as a goal. After telling him numerous times (he’d probably call it harping, I am a trainer you know), that he needs to work out and stop relying on medicine to cure his ails, he started coming in regularly and in less than a year, he was on lower doses of his cholesterol and blood pressure medications.
So, find a way to gauge your health by either your energy level, quality of sleep, or whether you are spending less on prescriptions. These are huge benefits you may not see right now, but when you’re 70 and want to spend the afternoon with your grandkids without having to sit down to rest, you’ll be glad you worked hard now!
Another reason you might come to Midtown is the social aspect of the Club. We pride ourselves on being your “third place,” after home and work, and on creating a fun and welcoming atmosphere.
So knowing there is a group of people waiting for you in a group ex class or that your lifting partner needs a spotter, gives you another reason to show up. Sometimes they help you work hard even though you’d rather be doing anything other than working out. And sometimes you just like hanging out with them and may even hit the M-Cafe for a bite to eat after class. Either way, they motivate you to keep going and getting healthier!
So, what motivates you? We’d love to know what brings you back to Midtown day after day. And how can we help you stay motivated?
